Faculty DEI Groups

The Faculty and Staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

The Faculty and Staff DEI Committee provides a reflective and collaborative space to discuss and work through issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Fenn School.

In the 2023-2024 school year, the Faculty and Staff DEI Committee developed a Vision Statement to guide Fenn’s continuing work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Faculty and Staff Racial Affinity Groups

Faculty and staff members have the option to attend monthly Racial Affinity Groups. Members of the DEI Office currently host two groups, one for adults who identify as People of Color and another for adults who identify as White. Monthly meetings provide the opportunity for discussions related to race and provide a space where participants can converse openly and honestly about their experiences, working together (in the affinity group and with others) to manifest racial equity at Fenn. We begin the year with questions such as: What has been your experience, as a person of color/white person, at The Fenn School, dealing with conversations about DEI, specifically racial justice? What have you noticed? What changes would you like to see? What are your goals for this year (for white folks: with regard to allyship, advocacy, and equity)? How will you help make change?

Fenn Diversity Institute

The goal of Fenn Diversity Institute (FDI) is to sustain an inclusive, supportive, and respectful school community with opportunities for all constituents of the school to grow and become part of an institution where everyone can thrive. FDI is an educational opportunity for faculty and staff to meet and explore issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to apply lessons to work relationships, pedagogy, and fostering inclusivity.

During the 2022-2023 school year, we began a two-year cycle in which faculty and staff members divided into five groups: Conflict and Courageous Conversations, Grading for Equity, Leadership Development, Social Emotional Learning and Developing a Trauma-Informed Lens, and So You Serve at a Boys School. Each group used book, article, and podcast resources to learn more about their topic and to work toward achieving the stated goal of the group. At the end of the two-year cycle, each group presented their outcomes to the collected faculty and staff. Outcomes provided practical steps forward to increase the use of a DEI lens in each of the areas listed above.